High school football coach suspends team to build character

A high school football coach in Roosevelt, Utah, suspended his entire football team after he learned players were bullying others off the field and causing problems.

“We felt like everything was going in a direction that we didn’t want our young men going,” Union High football coach Matt Labrum said to Deseret News.

So the coach and his staff gathered the 80 or so players on the team and told them to take off their gear. They would have to re-earn their playing privileges or take a hike.

Prior to the suspension, guidance counselors had informed the coaches of a cyberbullying incident involving the football players and a student. With no way of knowing who on the football team was hurling insults, Labrum said he cut the team across the board to send a message. He also apologized to the bullied student on behalf of the program.

Parents and students seem to be OK with the decision, praising Labrum’s character-building suspension. The team has since reformed and is doing community service before their next game.